In Lin'an City, the Imperial Palace, the Great Inner Forbidden Area, and Kunning Palace, the sounds of frolicking continued, bringing some life to the quiet palace.
"Xiao Zhao Quan, slow down, come here!"
Cuizhu squatted on the ground, not caring about her ladylike image, and teased the little prince Zhao Quan, who was one year and ten months old, to run over.
As the eldest son of Emperor Zhao Hong of the Song Dynasty, named after the late Song Ningzong, Zhao Quan was loved by thousands of people and was also the source of happiness in the palace.
Zhao Quan ran over quickly and almost fell to the ground, Cuizhu quickly held him up.
"Xiao Zhao Quan, great!"
Cuizhu teased Zhao Quan with a chuckle, and Zhou Xiuniang watching all this with a smile on her face.
Half a year after giving birth to her eldest son, Zhao Quan, she gave birth to her second daughter. It can be said that she has both a son and a daughter.
Thinking of Zhao Hong's behavior, Zhou Xiuniang couldn't help but smile.
"Cuizhu, do you think His Majesty seems to like his daughter more?"
Zhou Xiuniang subconsciously asked about Cuizhu.
"Mother loves her son, and father loves his daughter more. This has been the case since ancient times. As the emperor, your majesty is also a father, so of course he is not exempt from the common customs."
Cuizhu said with a smile and continued to feed Zhao Quan.
"Cuizhu, do you know where the princess has gone?"
Thinking of Li Weiming, Zhou Xiuniang looked around, but there seemed to be no sign of Li Weiming.
"Sister, the princess has gone to the palace. She heard that there are many books in the bookstores in Lin'an City, so she went out early in the morning."
After Cuizhu finished speaking, Yang Yi on the side shook his head and said:
"My motherland is in raging war, but I still have the leisure to buy books and read. I have a big heart."
For some reason, Cuizhu felt uncomfortable being close to Zhou Xiuniang.
Cuizhu is my aunt's maid, she should be of the same mind as me.
Cuizhu looked at Yang Yi without saying anything, and Yang Yi turned to Zhou Xiuniang.
"Sister, how is Your Majesty always doing well?"
Shortly after Zhao Hong ascended the throne, she returned to her hometown in Chun'an, and then went out to play and spend her days enjoying herself.
In the spring of the next year, the Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty and her aunt Yang Guizhi sent a message to her that everything was calm and that she could return to Lin'an City. She could have come over at that time, but she chose to wait for calm and did not leave rashly.
The aunt was involved in deposing the crown prince Zhao Hong, and the Yang family was panicked. Even after Zhao Hong ascended the throne and made it clear that he would no longer pursue the Yang family, the sky above the Yang family was filled with gloom and a howling wind. It was not until it was confirmed that her aunt and Zhao Hong shook hands and made peace, and Zhao Hong went to Jinling to implement the New Deal, that she belatedly came to Lin'an.
It's a pity that Zhao Hong has many things to do and spends a lot of time away from home. She and Zhao Hong have very few opportunities to meet each other. She talks in a hurry and doesn't mean what she says. She always feels that she no longer has the tacit understanding she had before.
"Sister, Your Majesty is not like that. He is busy all day without touching the ground, and it is difficult for him to even talk."
Zhou Xiuniang shook her head and said.
Although Yang Yi is her son's godmother, she intuitively thinks that Yang Yi doesn't like children, and Cuizhu is much better than her.
"Sister, do you want to ask His Majesty to take a break and spend a few days with you?"
Yang Yi said hesitantly.
In fact, she also wanted to see Zhao Hong, but she always met him in a hurry.
"He is implementing the New Deal, training officers and soldiers, and presiding over the palace examination. His Majesty is busy traveling and traveling across mountains and rivers, so let's not disturb him."
Zhao Hong had just returned from Sichuan and was busy with the imperial examinations. Zhou Xiuniang couldn't bear to upset him.
As for Yang Yi's little thoughts, she naturally knew it and was just pretending to be confused.
"Your Majesty, you are so busy!"
Yang Yi sighed softly, feeling helpless.
Life is short, and spring brings loneliness, so it is better to take advantage of the time with poetry and wine, have fun in time, and live a more free and happy life. The majestic Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the supreme emperor of the Nine-Five-Year Plan, cannot eat well and sleep well, and he has to sleep and eat late at night. Are you tired?
"No one can say otherwise. When His Majesty was the prince, although he was frightened, he was still able to talk and eat. Now that he is the emperor, he lives far away from home. He only comes back once every half a year and can't even meet him a few times."
Zhou Xiuniang leaned on the back of her chair and poured out the bitter water.
On the surface she complained about the long separation between husband and wife, but in fact she felt sorry for her husband. He seems to be in charge of the world, but in fact he is just a coolie.
"Sister, the palace used to be clean, but now there are two beauties. Sister, please be careful!"
Yang Yi couldn't help but reminded Zhou Xiuniang.
Unknowingly, she had regarded Li Weiming and Jia Sijin as her competitors.
"Princess Li Weiming of Xixia is actually quite a nice person. It's not easy for a person to come all the way to Lin'an City alone. And there is Jia Sijin, who has a good temper, is sensible, and is not difficult to get along with."
Zhou Xiuniang said leisurely, as if she was talking about a trivial matter.
Yang Yi seems to be unfriendly to Li Weiming and Jia Sijin. Both Li Weiming and Jia Sijin seemed to have no bad intentions, and were gentle and kind. Although Jia Sijin was a little cautious, he had a good character.
On the contrary, Yang Yi seemed to be too extravagant, had a bad temper, and drank alcohol unintentionally, which made her a little worried.
"Sister, you are really kind-hearted. However, His Majesty is young and energetic, and is easily tempted by beauty, so you should be careful."
Yang Yi nodded, slightly unhappy.
Just over a year later, Zhao Hong had three young and beautiful women around him. Forget about Cuizhu, after all, it was assigned by the Queen Mother and was also a slave of the Yang family. But those two women, one is a Xixia princess and the other is a queen from a famous family, they are just like Hua'er.
They are a full dozen years younger than me!
The thought of Zhao Hong and the two beauties hugging each other made Yang Yi feel like a knife.
Zhao Quan, who had a tiger head and a tiger head, was led by Cuizhu and began to eat, making a "tsk tsk" sound. Cuizhu pricked up her ears and listened, but didn't say anything.
"Sister, your Majesty, are you planning to move to Jinling?"
Yang Yi watched Cuizhu feed Zhao Quan. The child's face and chest were full of food. Cuizhu kept wiping it and frowned unconsciously.
All this was seen by Zhou Xiuniang.
"I don't know that. It's hard to guess His Majesty's thoughts."
"Sister, the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. I won't ask anymore."
Yang Yi said casually. Subconsciously, she already regarded herself as a member of the harem.
"Sister, it's not about doing politics, it's just that I really don't know."
Zhou Xiuniang smiled slightly, her face soft.
The emperor's thoughts may be on restoring the Central Plains.
"Sister, Jinling is still south of the river. This must not be His Majesty's original intention. Your Majesty is very ambitious. In my opinion, he will feel more at ease only if he recovers the Sixteen Yanyun States and the Western Desert Region!"
Cuizhu couldn't help but interjected from the side.
Yang Yi saw Cuizhu's red lips and white teeth, fair and rosy skin, and graceful waist, and couldn't help but feel disappointed again.
Even Cuizhu is so beautiful and so young, will the emperor miss her as a widow?
"Cuizhu, you are so beautiful! Thank you!"
Zhou Xiuniang looked at Cuizhu with a smile in her eyes.
Although Cuizhu was a gift from the Queen Mother, he is simple and considerate. Knowing that the emperor loved to eat soup cakes, he thought about it every day.
"Sister, in fact, you are the one who sinks the fish and luoyan, and sister Yi is also a shy flower. No wonder His Majesty likes you two!"
Cuizhu spoke sweetly and immediately complimented Yang Yi and Zhou Xiuniang.
"Sister, I know your thoughts and what you are waiting for. You can't stay like this alone. You should think about yourself. The ministers of the court are selecting concubines for the emperor. Don't miss it!"
Zhou Xiuniang observed her words and gave Yang Yi relief.
Cuizhu has already followed Zhao Hong. She is gentle and considerate, and it is only a matter of time before she gets the title. Now Yang Yi is missing.
"What? Choosing a concubine?"
Yang Yi's heart beat for a while, and then he shook his head.
"I'm afraid...I am a widow..."
Jia Sijin and Li Weiming are both young and beautiful, just like vixens. Compared with the two of them, I don't seem to have any advantage at all.
"Sister, you think too much."
Seeing Yang Yi depressed, Zhou Xiuniang's mother's heart began to overflow again.
"To tell you the truth, I have already asked the officials of the Ministry of Rites, and they have no objection to adding your name. I will also put in a good word for you from the emperor."
Zhou Xiuniang's words made Yang Yi blush, and her heart jumped.
Is this a dream come true?
Zhou Xiuniang felt a little sad when she looked at the uneasy Yang Yi.
The emperor's three palaces and six courtyards, she had no choice.
Yang Yida's favor with the emperor seems to be related to the two sharing adversity.
Jia Sijin and Li Weiming were both beautiful and young. They were very popular with the emperor and could flourish for the royal family.
"This...sister, I have to go back and think about it!"
Yang Yi was looking forward to it in her heart, but she was stubborn in her mouth.
"Sister, I know you like His Majesty, so don't refuse. When we get to the palace, we will also have a companion. In the future, our children will all be brothers and sisters. What a good thing this is!"
After saying these words, the little bit of sourness in Zhou Xiuniang's heart disappeared.
Zhao Hong worked hard and traveled for many years. He had a child of his own and it was hard for him to follow him around. Yang Yi may be a suitable confidant who can take care of Zhao Hong.
"Sister, I am willing! But I just don't know what the emperor is thinking? Didn't he have a Xixia princess? And that Jia Sijin, all of them are young and beautiful, like flowers..."
Yang Yi gave up her persistence, with unspeakable envy and hatred in her eyes.
"The emperor must have you in his heart. Princess Xixia, that is a state matter, and the emperor himself cannot force it."
Zhou Xiuniang smiled broadly, took Yang Yi's hand, and said kindly.
When the voice sounded, Zhou Xiuniang looked up and saw her younger brother Zhou An and her mother walking over.
The little daughter in the mother's hands seemed to be sleeping soundly.
"Sister, is this...?"
Zhou An asked Zhou Xiuniang, but his eyes wandered over Yang Yi's seductive figure.
"Madam, sister, I'm leaving now! Cuizhu, come here, I have something to do!"
When Yang Yi and Zhou Gao's mother and daughter saw Li, they looked at Zhou An with disgust and turned to leave.
Cuizhu had no choice but to put down Zhao Quan and follow Yang Yi away.
Zhou Xiuniang watched Yang Yi and Cuizhu leave, with Yang Yi in front like a master and Cuizhu in the back submissive like a servant, shaking her head slightly.
Yang Yi is looking for Cuizhu, what is going on? Cuizhu was already the emperor's employee, so the way the two of them got along was too strange.
